Assessing the Role of Women Entrepreneurs in the Growth of Boutique Hotels and Guesthouses in Ogun State, South West Nigeria

This study assesses the contribution of women entrepreneurs to the growth and diversification of boutique hotels and guesthouses in Ogun State, South West Nigeria. Women's entrepreneurship in Nigerian hospitality has received limited scholarly attention despite the visible presence of female-owned accommodation businesses in peri-urban and suburban markets. A mixed-method research design is adopted with a structured questionnaire administered to 95 female hotel and guesthouse owners in Abeokuta, Sagamu, and Ijebu-Ode, complemented by in-depth interviews with 15 key informants including industry association leaders and commercial bank loan officers. Dimensions examined include access to start-up and expansion finance, business training and mentorship access, regulatory compliance experiences, market positioning strategies, and perceived barriers to growth. Findings reveal that 72 percent of sampled women entrepreneurs relied primarily on personal savings and family contributions as start-up capital, with only 18 percent accessing formal bank credit. Business development support from industry associations is rated as inadequate by 63 percent of respondents. Despite these constraints, women-owned boutique properties demonstrate strong customer loyalty scores and competitive pricing adaptability. The study recommends gender-responsive hospitality entrepreneurship financing schemes, mentorship matching programmes through state hotel associations, and simplified licensing pathways for small accommodation businesses. Contributions to gender and entrepreneurship literature in the Nigerian hospitality context are also articulated. Keywords: women entrepreneurship, boutique hotels, Ogun State, hospitality SMEs, gender